Value proposition of NIA Certification
Why NIA Certification and how it differs from other Information Security Programs?
National Information Assurance (NIA) adopts an organization approach where information security is addressed in comprehensive and indistinguishable manner from the business of the organization. This approach ensures that the Information Security Management System (ISMS) based on NIA, covers all aspects of the business and is not limited to Information Technology (IT) layer or department.
NIA Certification is a Certification program that is unique in multiple ways as it is:
- Adapted and tailored to the State of Qatar needs: NIA Standard is a national standard that is designed to address the challenges identified in Qatar cyber space and the certification program is developed and managed by the National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA);
- A perfect blend of regulatory scrutiny and private market opportunities: All NIA Certification applications and their related audits are followed closely by dedicated team within NCSA, and at the same time, the audits are performed by Accredited Audit Service Providers that have been vetted by NCSA for their capabilities and competencies, allowing to leverage expertise from the private sector in the Qatar cyberspace under the government supervision; and
- Providing higher-assurance to stakeholders: Based on the organization-wide approach and a Certification program aligned with international standards for audit and certification (e.g., ISO/ICE 17021-1, International Standards on Auditing...), NIA Certification allow organizations to gain trust and confidence of stakeholders by demonstrating compliance and conformity with cybersecurity standards issued by the National Cyber Security Agency.
It is acknowledged that multiple information security programs and assurance mechanism are available to organizations, both international and national. To help understand the difference between the main programs, the below table explains how NIA Certification is the best choice, as it provides the highest-level of assurance from national regulatory authority, maximizing the benefits of Certification described below.
| Characteristics | National Information Assurance (NIA) | Qatar Cyber Security Framework | ISO 27001 | Service Organization Control Type 2 |
Assurance Level | High through independent audit and review by NCSA leading to a Certificate of Compliance | Minimal through maturity assessment | High through independent audit and review by for-profit organization leading to a Certificate of Compliance | Moderate through third-party audit |
Scope | Entire organization | Entire organization | Scope defined by the organization | Scope defined by the organization typically the service offered to the market |
Extent of review | Design and Operating Effectiveness audit of controls | Assessment to verify the existence of controls only | Design and Operating Effectiveness audit of controls | Audit of effectiveness of controls |
Target audience | All stakeholders | Internal to the organization and NCSA. | All stakeholders | Clients and auditors |
General benefits of NIA Certification
Apart from meeting regulatory requirements, Certified Organizations can benefit from:
- Assurance about the organization’s secure posture through independent and rigorous audit.
- Ensuring that the organization assets, shareholders, and staff are adequately aware and protected from identified cyber threats.
- Providing customers and stakeholders with confidence in how the organization manage cyber and technology risk.
- Confirm the resilience of the organization against common cyber threats.
- Managing and minimizing risk exposure, by building a culture of security in the organization.
- Helping with compliance to other related international, national, and sectoral regulations and standards.